September 29, 2022 – The Words of Eternal Life

“Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Then many of his disciples, when they heard these things, said, “This is a difficult saying! Who can understand it?” When Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining about this, he said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help! The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had already known from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) So Jesus added, “Because of this I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed him to come.” After this many of his disciples quit following him and did not accompany him any longer. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You donʼt want to go away too, do you?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God!” John 6:60-69

‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ I too sometimes find the Eucharist difficult to accept. My faith in the clear words of Jesus, and my experience of the consolation it gives me help me to believe. What looks like bread and wine, are the body and blood of Jesus, given to me as my food and drink. I thank Jesus for this most wonderful of gifts and ask him to strengthen my weak faith. Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’ I stay with these words, let them resound in my heart, challenging and encouraging me as I find myself uttering them to Jesus.”  (sacredspace.ie web site)

“Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” The words Peter speaks are words I have put my faith and hope in for they point to the reality of eternal life – a life that is intended for all people. They were intended for Peter, Andrew, James, John, Judas, Paul, Luther, Melanchthon, Calvin, Hobbes, Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, Queen Elizabeth II, and your greatest enemy. We may think that these words of eternal life were only for “those worth saving”, but these words are all inclusive words — because Jesus thinks all people are worth trying to save. We cannot give up on Jesus, no matter how wrong we think our lives have turned out, because Jesus will never give up on us.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, help me to live into your words of eternal life and to turn to them again and again when life gets me down. Amen.

Pastor Dave

September 30, 2022 – The Mercy Rule

“For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!” Romans 11:32-33

“The Mercy Rule is God’s plan for disobedient sinners to know that our only hope is his endless mercy. Kristen Talbot won a spot on the U.S. speed skating team in the 1994 winter Olympics. To be an Olympic speed skater she had to stay on a rigid practice and training schedule; any interruption threatened her chance for a gold medal. Yet that’s exactly what Kristen did when, only weeks before she was scheduled to compete she donated bone marrow to her critically ill brother. During an interview she said skating and the Olympics are important, but not as important as helping others. She went on to compete in the Olympics and came home without a medal. That’s The Mercy Rule. Who needs your mercy? Make it more important.”“The Mercy Rule” (gracedowntown website for Grace Lutheran Church,Milwaukee, WI)

“What does it mean that God consigned each group to disobedience? In Romans 1, Paul described God’s reaction to the sinful unbelief of the Gentiles. He gave them up or turned them over to their own sinful desires (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). In a similar way, God is described as having hardened the Israelites in their initial unbelief in Christ for a season (Romans 11:25).” (BibleRef.com)

“The Mercy Rule is God’s plan for disobedient sinners to know that our only hope is his endless mercy.” Many of us know something about a mercy rule in sports. Sometimes it is called a “ten run rule” where if a baseball or softball team scores 10 runs more than their opponent by a certain inning, the game ends immediately. Sometimes it comes in the form of a team taking one or more players off the field once they have scored five more goals than the opposing team. The Mercy Rule is put into effect to bring about more parity among teams — to even the playing field, so to speak.

G-d’s mercy rule is not that different, because it also evens the playing field. Because of G-d’s mercy we all have the chance for eternal life — people may think they are better than others, but G-d’s mercy comes equally to all, no matter who thinks they are better, have done more, or are more righteous. Thank goodness for G-d’s Mercy Rule or we all would be losers.

Let us pray,

Lord help me remember today that we are all depending on your Mercy Rule. We cannot be saved by our own works – only through your Grace. Amen.

Pastor Dave